Baller Alert’s Today In Hip-Hop: Nas Released “It Was Written” 22 Years Ago

On July 2, 1996, 22 years ago today, Nas released his second studio album, “It Was Written” on Columbia Records. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album “Illmatic,” Nas shifted in a more mainstream, commercial direction. With the help of hip-hop production duo, The Trackmasters, the album was an “audio anthology of ghetto stories told by one of hip-hop’s most prolific writers,” The Source wrote. While NME said “Nas’ neat, considered lyrics treat the violence that surrounds him with a mixture of remorse, resignation, and ebullience.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

“It Was Written” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. With singles like “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)”, “Street Dreams” and “The Message”, the album peaked at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and stayed at the top of Billboard 200 for four consecutive weeks. In fact, as it stands, the album is Nas’ best-selling release, with over two million copies in the United States alone.

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What is your favorite song from this album?